Chapter 64: CatNap Vs Finn FishyFinns: Duel Of The Cosmos
CatNap and Finn were outside and on the street as a duel was about to start.
"Now, let's see how much you can keep up with my Deck, CatNap." Finn said, "This is your first time taking me on in a duel, after all."
"My Deck has changed overtime." CatNap said, "So hopefully, I'll see if I'm able to keep up with my own Deck as well, considering that it's been a year since I've last played this game."
"Because?"
"I was busy trying to fix myself and my friend group."
"Understandable. Anyways, shall we?"
"Indeed we shall."
The two critters started their Duel Disks and shouted, "Duel!" to start the duel.
Turn 1
CatNap: 4000
Finn FishyFinns: 4000
"I'll go first." Finn said, "I want you to try and figure this out on your own."
"Alright." CatNap said, "Lay it on me,
With both critters having 5 cards in their hands, Finn went first as she played a Field Spell to start the duel and her turn.
"I'll start my turn by activating my Field Spell, The Most Distant, Deepest Depths!" She said,
The Field Spell was activated as an ocean of stars and cosmos turned the night blue in CatNap and Finn's area.
"Woah…" CatNap said, stunned by the looks of it,
"Don't get too carried away by my Field Spell." Finn said, "Remember, this duel is for what help you want me to give you."
"Oh, right."
"Anyways, I shall then activate the effect of my Field Spell, The Most Distant, Deepest Depths."
Finn then banished a monster from her hand known as Paces, Light Of The Ghoti.
"By banishing a Fish monster from my hand or graveyard, I can add a Ghoti monster from my Deck to my Hand." She said as she does so by adding Ixeep, Omen Of The Ghoti,
"Ghotis, huh?" CatNap wondered,
"Oh yes, they mean so much to me. Now."
Finn then revealed Ixeep from her hand.
"To activate the effect of my Ixeep, Omen Of The Ghoti." She said, "When a Fish monster is banished, I can Special Summon this card from my hand!"
Ixeep, Omen Of The Ghoti was Special Summoned in Attack Position with 1500 ATK Points.
"Now, I think I'll end my turn there." Finn said,
"Wh-What? Already?" CatNap said, shocked, "That was quick…"
"Don't lower your guard, CatNap. Although I didn't set any Traps, that doesn't mean I'm wide open."
Turn 2.
CatNap took a deep breath as he placed his two fingers on the top card of his deck.
"Ok, let's do this." He said, "I draw!"
CatNap draws to start the turn. He looked at the card he drew and went to play it, but Finn stopped him.
"Hold!" She said, "It's the Standby Phase, so I activate the effect of my Tuner monster Paces, Light Of The Ghoti that's banished!"
Paces was Special Summoned onto the field in Defense Position with 0 DEF Points.
"During the Standby Phase after Paces was banished, I can Special Summon it back to my field." Finn said,
"...I see." CatNap said, "And why did you Special Summon a Tuner monster during my turn?"
"You'll find out later. Now, continue with your turn, if you must."
"Alright, where was I? Oh! This!
CatNap now played the card he drew to start Turn 2.
"I summon Aluber The Jester Of Despia in Attack Position!" He said,
Aluber was Normal Summoned in Attack Position with 1800 ATK Points.
"And when he's Summoned, I can add a Branded Spell or Trap from my Deck to my Hand!" CatNap said as he does so, being Branded Fusion,
"Ah, a Fusion Spell Card." Finn said,
"Of course it is, and I'll activate the Spell Card, Branded Fusion, right now!"
CatNap activates Branded Fusion.
"Which lets me Fusion Summon a monster that mentions Fallen Of Albaz by using 2 monsters from my hand, Deck or field as Fusion Materials!" He said,
"Before you do so, allow me to activate the effect of my Paces, Light Of The Ghoti." Finn said,
"Huh? What's your monster's effect?"
"During your Main Phase, I can Synchro Summon 1 Fish Synchro Monster using Paces as the Tuner!"
"An effect that lets you Synchro Summon during my turn… Ok, do your thing, Miss FishyFinns."
"Thanks, now I shall Synchro Summon by tuning my Level 2 Paces with my Level 4 Ixeep!"
A Synchro Summon has started between Level 2 tuner Paces, Light Of The Ghoti and Level 4 non-tuner Ixeep, Omen Of The Ghoti.
"I Synchro Summon, Level 6, Arionpos, Serpent Of The Ghoti!" Finn said,
The Level 6 Synchro Monster, Arionpos, Serpent Of The Ghoti, was Synchro Summoned in Attack Position with 2100 ATK Points.
"Alright, thanks for Synchro Summoning, because now I'm gonna Fusion Summon with Branded Fusion!" CatNap said as he sends his two monsters from his Deck to his Graveyard as Fusion Materials for Branded Fusion's effect, "Because I'm sending Fallen Of Albaz and Incredible Ecclesia, The Virtuous from my Deck to the Graveyard!"
A Fusion Summon has started under Branded Fusion's effect.
"Evolve into a dragon reborn from the branded hellfire around you!" CatNap chanted, "Fusion Summon!"
A powerful red dragon slowly emerges.
"Scream to the battlefield, Albion The Branded Dragon!" CatNap shouted,
Albion The Branded Dragon roared as it was Fusion Summoned in Attack Position with 2500 ATK Points.
"Now for me to activate Albion The Branded Dragon's effect!" CatNap said, "When Fusion Summoned, I can Fusion Summon another Level 8 or lower Fusion Monster by banishing Materials listed from my hand, field or Graveyard!"
"Before you do that, I activate the effect of my Arionpos, Serpent Of The Ghoti upon Synchro Summoning!" Finn said, "Upon being Synchro Summoned, I can banish 1 Level 6 or lower Fish monster from my Deck!"
"Oh, really?"
"Really! Now watch, CatNap, because the monster I will banish will have an immediate effect!"
Finn then banished a monster known as Zep, Ruby Of The Ghoti from her Deck via the effect of Arionpos.
"And that will be my 2nd Tuner monster, Zep, Ruby Of The Ghoti!" Finn continued, "And when banished during your turn, I can Special Summon it back to my field!"
Zep, Ruby Of The Ghoti, was Special Summoned to the field in Defense Position with 1000 DEF Points.
"Now for Zep's effect!" Finn said, "When Special Summoned, I can Synchro Summon 1 Fish Synchro Monster immediately by using Zep itself!"
"Another Synchro Summon during my turn?!" CatNap said,
"That's right! Now, I will tune my Level 2 Zep, Ruby Of The Ghoti with my Level 6 Arionpos, Serpent Of The Ghoti!"
Another Synchro Summon has started between Level 2 tuner Zep, Ruby Of The Ghoti and Level 6 non-tuner Arionpos, Serpent Of The Ghoti.
"Pierce the deepest depths of the cosmos with your two horns of light!" Finn chanted, "Synchro Summon!"
A giant fish with 2 long horns appeared out of the cosmos above.
"Swim through the cosmos, Level 8, Askaan, The Bicorned Ghoti!" Finn shouted,
Askaan, The Bicorned Ghoti was Synchro Summoned in Attack Position with 2700 ATK Points.
"Now, carry on with your 2nd Fusion Summon, CatNap!" Finn said,
CatNap froze for a second.
"Ok… She Synchro Summoned again." He said to himself, "Do I risk Fusion Summoning for Mirrorjade? Or do I Fusion Summon another monster to help Albion take down those 2 Ghoti monsters? I think I'm gonna go with Plan B."
CatNap then puts his hand out with a card from his hand.
"Alright, I'm gonna banish Fallen Of Albaz from my Graveyard and Albion The Shrouded Dragon from my Hand as Fusion Materials!" He shouted, "Albion The Branded Dragon, Branded Scream!"
Another Fusion Summon has started, but this time under the effect of Albion The Branded Dragon.
"Burn up your rage to ashen the post-apocalyptic tension!" CatNap chanted, "Fusion Summon!"
A dragon made out of titanium appeared out of the Fusion Summon.
"Ignite, Titaniklad The Ash Dragon!" CatNap shouted,
Titaniklad The Ash Dragon was Fusion Summoned in Attack Position with 2500 ATK Points, but gained 1200 under one it's effects.
"And it gains 100 ATK Points times the combined levels of the materials used for its Fusion Summon!" CatNap said,
"I see, you have enough to defeat me, hmm?" Finn wondered, "Very well, I shall now activate the effect of my Askaan, The Bicorned Ghoti upon being Synchro Summoned!"
"Alright, here it comes!"
"I can target a card I control and a card you control and banish both of them!"
"Ok, who are you gonna banish?"
"I will be banishing my Askaan and your Titaniklad! But first! Arionpos's effect! When it's sent to my Graveyard as Synchro Material, I can banish a Fish monster from my Graveyard to add another with an equal or lower level than the banished monster from my Deck to my Hand!"
Arionpos was banished.
"So I'll banish Arionpos to add another Level 6 Fish monster!" Finn said as she added another Fish monster from her Deck to her Hand, "And that will be Snopios, Shade Of The Ghoti!"
CatNap smiled.
"Well now we got Askaan's effect, yeah?" He wondered, "But I was wondering…"
"Hmm?" Finn wondered,
"Are you sure you want to banish my Titaniklad under your Askaan's effect?"
"Of course I will! He's powerful enough to take down my Askaan! So Askaan, Fading Cosmos!"
Askaan's horns started to glow as itself and Titaniklad attempted to fade away as part of Askaan's effect to banish itself and one of CatNap's monsters, but only Askaan was banished.
"What?!" Finn said, "It wasn't banished!"
"Well that's because of my Titaniklad's other effect." CatNap replied, "Once Fusion Summoned, he is unaffected by the effects of your monster's Special Summoned from your Extra Deck for the rest of this turn."
"Huh, not bad for a Fusion Summon."
"Well, this duel is about to end quickly. Might as well move on to the Battle Phase and then–"
"--Not so fast!"
"Uh-oh."
"I activate another effect of my Askaan, The Bicorned Ghoti! When it's banished, I can banish 1 Fish monster from my Graveyard to Special Summon it back to my field!"
Paces, Light Of The Ghoti was banished again.
"And I'll be banishing Paces to bring back my Askaan to the field!" Finn said,
Askaan was Special Summoned onto the field again in Attack Position.
"Ok, now can I move on to the Battle Phase?" CatNap wondered,
"If you insist." Finn replied, "But CatNap–"
"--Battle!"
"Oh no…"
The Battle Phase started.
"Titaniklad, attack Askaan!" CatNap shouted, "Titanic Rampage!"
Titaniklad attacks Askaan, destroying it and dealing 1000 points of damage to Finn.
"Now Albion will attack you directly!" CatNap said, "Branded Hellfire!"
Albion The Branded Dragon then fired out a breath of hellfire at Finn, dealing 2500 points of damage to her. She is now down to 500 Life Points left.
"And finally, Aluber will attack you directly and end this duel!" CatNap said,
As Aluber prepared an attack, Finn straightened her glasses and quickly reacted.
"Hold it!" She said as she revealed Snopios from her hand, "I activate the effect of my Snopios, Shade Of The Ghoti!"
Ixeep, Omen Of The Ghoti and Zep, Ruby Of The Ghoti were banished.
"By banishing 2 Fish monsters from my Graveyard, I can Special Summon Snopios from my hand in Attack Position!" Finn shouted,
Snopios, Shade Of The Ghoti was Special Summoned in Attack Position with 2100 ATK Points.
"And when Special Summoned, I can target a face-up card on the field and when it leaves the field, it will be banished." Finn explained, "So I'll be targeting my own Snopios then."
Aluber canceled its attack as the Battle Phase was over under the Special Summon of Snopios. CatNap sighed.
"Damn it, I was so close!" He said,
Finn sighed as well.
"CatNap, you went overboard." She said, "I know you want to win and get to find the truth on what's causing your nightmares, but you can't just let something like this happen."
"I'm sorry, Miss FishyFinns…" CatNap said, disappointed, "I… I… This whole thing has been going on for years. I have emotions, but some I can't even control. You should know that by now."
Finn sighed again.
"You're right." She said, "I can't control other people's emotions."
"Yeah…" CatNap said, "Alright, back to the Duel, I end my turn."
"Hmm? You end your turn? Already?"
"Yes, I will end my turn, Miss FishyFinns."
"Are you sure?"
"...I am sure."
"Very well, it's my turn."
Turn 3.
CatNap: 4000
Finn FishyFinns: 500
Finn draws to start her turn.
"I draw!" She said as she put the card she drew in her hand and proceeded to her turn, "During the Standby Phase, since Paces is banished, I can bring it back to my field!"
Paces was Special Summoned onto the field in Defense Position, once again.
"Now for another Synchro Summon!" Finn said, "I tune my Level 2 Paces with my Level 6 Snopios!"
Another Synchro Summon has started between Level 2 tuner Paces and Level 6 non-tuner Snopios.
"Spear the cosmic horizons around you with your sharp tentacles of the depths above!" Finn chanted, "Synchro Summon!"
A Ghoti monster with many tentacles emerges.
"Pierce the night, Level 8, Guoglim, Spear Of The Ghoti!" Finn shouted,
Guoglim, Spear Of The Ghoti was Synchro Summoned in Attack Position with 2700 ATK Points.
"Time to Battle!" Finn said as the Battle Phase started again, "Guoglim, attack Albion The Branded Dragon! Shining Spears!"
Guoglim used its sharp tentacles to attack Albion, banishing it from the field. CatNap did not take any damage.
"I didn't take damage?" CatNap wondered,
"That's because of my Guoglim's effect." Finn replied, "When it attacks a monster, I can banish that monster from play."
"Oh, I see."
"Now then, before I end my turn, I'll Normal Summon the Tuner monster Shif, Fairy Of The Ghoti in Attack Position!"
Shif, Fairy Of The Ghoti was Normal Summoned in Attack Position with 0 ATK Points.
"Now, I end my turn." Finn said,
"Alright, I'll draw!" CatNap said as he does so to start Turn 4,
CatNap then looked at his hand of now 5 cards.
"So now she can Synchro Summon during my turn, I just know it." He said to himself, "But it only happens when she wants to… That Tuner monster with 0 ATK Points may look weak, but its effect is strong enough to carry my teacher's main focus…"
CatNap then looked at his hand and sighed.
"Alright, I don't have a choice." He said as he played a Spell he drew, "I play the Spell Card, Branded Bond! This lets me Special Summon Fallen Of Albaz that is banished, in my hand or in my Graveyard! So come back to help me, Fallen Of Albaz!"
Fallen Of Albaz was Special Summoned back to the field in Attack Position with 1800 ATK Points.
"Now for Fallen Of Albaz's effect!" CatNap said as he discarded Despian Tragedy, "By discarding 1 card, I can Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster by using monsters from either field as materials including Albaz!"
"I won't let you do that to my Guoglim!" Finn said, "Shif, I activate your effect to Synchro Summon during CatNap's turn!"
"Here it comes… It's gonna be Level 10…"
Another Synchro Summon has started between Level 2 tuner Shif, Fairy Of The Ghoti and Level 8 non-tuner Guoglim, Spear Of The Ghoti.
"From the far depths of the cosmos, I call upon this monster to swallow the stars above and leave a dark world!" Finn chanted, "Synchro Summon!"
A giant fish made out of cosmos slowly emerges from the distant depths above.
"Radiate the night, Level 10, Ghoti Of The Deep Beyond!" Finn shouted,
Ghoti Of The Deep Beyond was Synchro Summoned in Attack Position with Unknown ATK Points, but gained 2000 ATK Points.
"Just 2000 ATK Points?" CatNap said,
"My Ghoti Of The Deep Beyond gains 500 ATK Points for every banished monster!" Finn said, "I'll explain my monster's effect once you're done Fusion Summoning!"
"Once I'm done Fusion Summoning…"
CatNap realized something.
"She has something up her sleeve, I know it." He said to himself, "I'll find a way to bypass her next move! And I know how!"
CatNap then prepared himself.
"I fuse my Fallen Of Albaz with my Aluber, The Jester Of Despia!" He said,
"Ah, he's not gonna use my Ghoti Of The Deep Beyond as material…" Finn said to herself, "Interesting…"
Another Fusion Summon has started, but this time, under Fallen Of Albaz's effect.
"I Fusion Summon, Lubellion The Searing Dragon!" CatNap said,
Lubellion The Searing Dragon was Fusion Summoned in Attack Position with 2500 ATK Points.
"Now to activate Lubellion's effect!" CatNap said as he discards Branded Opening, "And by discarding another card, I'll Fusion Summon another Level 8 or lower Fusion Monster by shuffling back cards from my field, Graveyard or banished face-up back to my Deck or Extra Deck!"
"Not if I cancel that!" Finn said, "Ghoti Of The Deep Beyond will now activate its effect upon Synchro Summoning during your turn!"
Ghoti Of The Deep Beyond started to glow.
"Deep Devouring Radiation!" Finn shouted,
Ghoti Of The Deep Beyond, alongside other cards on the field were banished.
"Woah…" CatNap said,
"Woah indeed…" Finn said, "Ghoti Of The Deep Beyond can banish all cards on the field and during the next Standby Phase after its activation, I can Special Summon it back to my field."
CatNap chuckled.
"Well you're already wide open." He said,
"Hmm?" Finn said,
"I still haven't finished using the effect of my Lubellion yet."
"Wait, what?"
"You forgot that my Lubellion can use my monsters that are banished face-up as materials, didn't you?"
"Oh! I forgot!"
"Now you remember! I'm shuffling back Fallen Of Albaz and Lubellion The Searing Dragon back to my Deck and Extra Deck as Fusion Materials!"
Fallen Of Albaz and Lubellion The Searing Dragon were shuffled back to CatNap's Deck and Extra Deck as Fusion Materials for Lubellion's Fusion Summon.
"Brand yourself under a rage of icy blades!" CatNap chanted, "Fusion Summon!"
A dragon made out of icy blades emerges from the Fusion Summon under Lubellion's effect.
"Slash and roar your way through the branded times, Mirrorjade The Iceblade Dragon!" CatNap shouted,
Mirrorjade The Iceblade Dragon was Fusion Summoned in Attack Position with 3000 ATK Points. Finn was shocked and then smiled.
"Well…" She said, "I must say, it looks like you found your way forward, CatNap, do not lose it."
"I won't, Miss FishyFinns." CatNap said, "Battle!"
The Battle Phase started again.
"Mirrorjade, attack Miss FishyFinns directly!" CatNap shouted, "Iceblade Strike!"
Mirrorjade roared as its crystals it formed around it started to pierce the ground and created more crystals that went forward Finn and dealt 3000 points of damage to her, draining her Life Points down to 0. She held onto the attack and managed to survive it without losing her balance. She sighed heavily, straightened her glasses and laughed a bit.
"I must say, my deck does need to be changed." She said, "After playing it, it's missing a lot of cards needed to synergize the Ghoti cards I currently have."
CatNap went to Finn.
"Not bad, CatNap." Finn said as she and CatNap shared a handshake, "A promise is a promise as well."
"I appreciate it, Miss FishyFinns." CatNap said,
"Oh, and before I find a book that might speak your language, would it be ok if you offer me a drink of water? This duel has gotten me quite parched."
CatNap had a confused yet embarrassed look on his face.
"Ehhhh… Ok." He said,
Finn chuckled.
"Thank you." She said as she headed back to her house, "I'll be back inside my house now. Don't keep me waiting."
"Ok, wait for me." CatNap said as he followed her,